mike robinson

Well, these ballots don't force anybody to choose from a list. Its basically pick your 10 top wooden coaster, 10 top steel coasters and the you write in your selection for the different categories. The Deadline is in Early July so a lot of new coasters don't get the votes the first year. The Golden Tickets have been a big part of what makes AT successful, they use them to promote the publication and it helps bring in a lot of revenue each year, just look at the number of ads in any issue that announces the results. Like em or not, they are overall a good representation of what 500 or so people are thinking. I know people are upset about the placement of Balder, but that just reflects the number of people who have ridden it who voted. If I was voting I would have a hard time voting for something I had not ridden. I think Mitches pole is more accurate just because there is no limit on who votes so there is a lot more representation all around. As long as I have seen awards or polls, I have seen people disagreeing. Overall, I think AT does a very good job. You might not agree with the results, but it is what it is. I think a TPR award would be a very good idea BTW.

Works fine on my Sprint phone. Load times not much different from any other web site.

While not much can match the 1976 Texas Cyclone, it was giving some great rides in it final years. Easily a top 15 wood coaster for me. Of course I have a lot of sentimental value for the Texas Cyclone so that affects my ranking I am sure. Never the less, it was one fine coaster. It had its ups and downs through the years, but the coaster that was demolished was one of the great ones.

Now the good news! http://www.amusementtoday.com/ Greezed Lightning and Mayan Mindbender to stay in Texas! Edit - And we all know you would be crying if it was a Togo Robb!

Its a pretty damn sad day in Houston. That for sure. Even though we knew it was coming, it still kind of takes the wind out of our sails. Sadly it seems a couple of steel coasters suffered the same fate. I don't think Viper or XLR8 made it. On the bright side look for some good news tomorrow on a couple of other ex-Astroworld coasters.

I was at Astroworld on Sunday and all the Track for Batman: The Escape was still on property. The ride is being taken down, but no track has left yet. (or none that I can tell) The only track I saw leaving the park was for Ultratwister.